(November 17, 1999) -- The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP) is one of 40 theological schools to have been awarded a $10,000 planning grant from Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. to participate in a national technology initiative.

Through the program, the Endowment hopes to address the needs of seminaries to gain access to important technological resources, train faculty and staff in their use, provide for their maintenance and updating, and rethink teaching practices in light of the new possibilities these technologies offer.

"We've made great strides here in our technology initiatives for teaching and learning," said Kyle Barger, the Seminary's Information Technology manager. "This planning grant will do a great deal to make our total community more comfortable with what technology makes possible." Barger noted that LTSP has a high-technology classroom that is increasingly well-utilized. Dr. Margaret Krych, who directs the Seminary's Advanced Level Degrees program, has developed a CD ROM-based instructional program on Christian education. Dr. Richard Stewart, a faculty member specializing in communications and parish administration, is also using technology for the teaching of specialized courses in his field. The Seminary recently hosted its first web cast on the interface between worship and culture, featuring Hein-Fry program lecturers Dr. Gordon Lathrop, the Seminary's Charles Schieren Professor of Liturgy and Dr. Mary Collins of the Catholic University of America.

"We've been known for our use of technology at the Seminary for years," Stewart said. "Technology has been a vital part of our Media Center in the video production we have done, and we have an extensive video library of our special events. This planning grant will help us continue to introduce the latest in technology to our faculty, students and staff."

Craig Dykstra, Endowment vice president for religion, said, "Improving the quality of theological school teaching is a central focus of the Endowment's grantmaking in theological education. Our long-term goal, of course, is to enrich American Christianity with a generation of knowledgeable ministers who can lead vibrant and healthy congregations in this country."

The Endowment also announced 30 supplemental technology grants of $100,000 each to schools who had received $200,000 implementation grants in 1997. LTSP will be eligible to receive a $300,000 implementation grant when the Endowment announces the grantees next summer.

Earlier this fall, LTSP announced that the Endowment had awarded it a $502,493 grant to participate in a national program to provide opportunities for high-school-age young people to engage in theological study and inquiry. The Endowment is a private foundation that follows its founders' wishes in supporting the causes of community development, education and religion.